Agriculture policy to raise productivity approved in Cabinet

The government has given approval to the National Agricultural Policy-2018 (Jatiya Krishi Niti-2018) with an objective to increase the productivity of the crops, enhance income of the farmers, diversify of crops, produce nutritious and safe food, develop marketing system and ensure food safety through efficient use of profitable agriculture and natural resources and socioeconomic development. The approval was given in a weekly meeting of the cabinet held at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The new draft policy has been framed by upgrading the previous policy of 2013, setting up the prime goal of making the agriculture sector safe and profitable in a view to attaining food and nutrition security in the country, Cabinet Secretary Md. Shafiul Alam told reporters after the meeting.
The draft policy has stressed for using nanotechnology, taking agriculture extension programs for disaster-prone regions and extract groundwater carefully in critical areas, he said.
Besides, the policy has also stressed agricultural farming through a cooperative system, he added.
According to Alam, the main objective of the draft policy is to attain sustainable, profitable, nutritious and safe food in the country.
The issues like standard seed production and urban agricultural services, agro-machinery services, innovative extension technology, setting up of agriculture technology block, year-round production are also included in the policy, he added.
According to the cabinet secretary, the policy would help to raise crop’s productivity and increase farmer’s income through diversification of crops.
The draft policy also included for marketing development management ensuring food security through the proper use of natural resources, Alam added.
Besides, it has also included geographic information system (GIS) for the development of proficiency, remote sensing, crop modelling, use of communication technology and create employment generation, the cabinet secretary added.
The cabinet secretary said Jatiya Krishi Niti-2018 is an overarching and detailed one which included the issues not addressed in the previous policy.